Content validation using blockchain

ABSTRACT

A device may receive content data from a content provider, the content data including: data identifying content, and data for verifying that the content has not changed. The device may access a blockchain associated with the content data, the blockchain including validation information specifying instructions for validating the content. In addition, the device may perform, based on the validation information, validation of the content to determine a measure of confidence that the content is accurate and store results of the validation in the blockchain as a transaction. Based on the validation results, the device may perform an action.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/902,368, filed Feb. 22, 2018, which is incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND

Content providers are entities that often provide a variety of content(e.g., web pages, news articles, scholarly articles, micro-blog posts,images, videos, software, and/or the like) in digital form forconsumption by users. The content provided by content providers is oftenprovided to, or otherwise made available to, users by distributing thecontent to users' computing devices that are part of a network,including private networks and public networks, such as the Internet.Generally, there are very few limits on the content that contentproviders make available to users, and it can often be difficult forusers to verify the validity of the content that the users have beenprovided.

A blockchain is a continuously growing list of records, called blocks,which are linked and secured using cryptography. Each block may containa hash pointer as a link to a previous block, a timestamp, andtransactional data (e.g., each block may include many transactions). Bydesign, a blockchain is inherently resistant to modification of thetransactional data. A blockchain may be managed by a peer-to-peernetwork of nodes (e.g., devices) collectively adhering to a consensusprotocol for validating new blocks. Once recorded, the transaction datain a given block cannot be altered retroactively without the alterationof all previous blocks, which requires collusion of a majority of thenetwork nodes.

A blockchain is an append-only data structure maintained by a network ofnodes that do not fully trust each other. A permissioned blockchain is atype of blockchain where access to the network of nodes is controlled insome manner, e.g., by a central authority and/or other nodes of thenetwork. All nodes in a blockchain network agree on an ordered set ofblocks, and each block may contain one or more transactions. Thus, ablockchain may be viewed as a log of ordered transactions. Oneparticular type of blockchain (e.g., Bitcoin) stores coins as systemstates shared by all nodes of the network. Bitcoin-based nodes implementa simple replicated state machine model that moves coins from one nodeaddress to another node address, where each node may include manyaddresses. Furthermore, public blockchains may include full nodes, wherea full node may include an entire transactional history (e.g., a log oftransactions), and a node may not include the entire transactionalhistory. For example, Bitcoin includes thousands of full nodes in all ofthe nodes that are connected to Bitcoin.

Another particular type of blockchain (e.g., Ethereum) extends Bitcointo support user-defined and Turing-complete state machines. An Ethereumblockchain lets the user define complex computations and/or instructionsin a form of a smart contract, which includes executable code designedto perform one or more actions based on the occurrence of a condition.An Ethereum smart contract, for example, defines, in executable code, acomputer protocol that facilitates, verifies, and/or enforcesnegotiation or performance of a contract. Once deployed, a smartcontract is executed on all Ethereum nodes as a replicated statemachine. The Ethereum node includes an execution engine (e.g., anEthereum virtual machine (EVM)) that executes a smart contract. Onedifference between Ethereum and Bitcoin is that smart contract andtransaction states are maintained by Ethereum, while only transactionstates are maintained by Bitcoin. In fact, a smart contract isidentified by a unique address that includes a balance. Upon retrievinga trigger transaction to the unique address, the smart contract executeslogistics of the smart contract.

SUMMARY

According to some implementations, a device may comprise: one or morememory devices; and one or more processors, communicatively connected tothe one or more memory devices, to: receive content data from a contentprovider, the content data including: data identifying content, and datafor verifying that the content has not changed; access a blockchainassociated with the content data, the blockchain including: validationinformation specifying instructions for validating the content; perform,based on the validation information, a validation of the content todetermine a measure of confidence that the content is accurate; storevalidation results of the validation in the blockchain, the validationresults being stored in the blockchain as a transaction; and perform anaction based on the validation results.

According to some implementations, a non-transitory computer-readablemedium may store instructions, the instructions comprising: one or moreinstructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause theone or more processors to: receive data identifying content associatedwith a content provider; receive hash data that is based on a hash ofthe content; access a blockchain associated with the content, theblockchain including: validation information specifying a process forvalidating the content; determine whether the content is accurate basedon the validation information; store results of the determination in theblockchain, the results being stored in the blockchain as a transaction;and perform an action based on the results.

According to some implementations, a method may comprise: receiving, bya device associated with a blockchain network, content data associatedwith a content provider; accessing, by the device, a blockchainassociated with the content data, the blockchain including: validationinformation specifying instructions for validating the content;performing, by the device and based on the validation information, avalidation of the content to determine whether the content is accurate;storing, by the device, validation results of the validation in theblockchain, the validation results being stored in a transaction on theblockchain; and performing, by the device, an action based on thevalidation results.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an overview of an example implementationdescribed herein;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an example environment in which systems and/ormethods, described herein, may be implemented;

FIG. 3 is a diagram of example components of one or more devices of FIG.2;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of an example process for performing contentvalidation using a blockchain;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of an example process for performing contentvalidation using a network of content validation nodes; and

FIGS. 6A-6D are diagrams of example content validated using ablockchain.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description of example implementations refers tothe accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in differentdrawings may identify the same or similar elements.

Users of user devices (e.g., home computers, laptop computers, smartphones, and/or the like) often encounter content (e.g., web pages, newsarticles, scholarly articles, micro-blog posts, social network content,images, videos, software, and/or the like), the accuracy of which may bedifficult to verify. For example, a user may browse the Internet on ahome computer and encounter a news article provided by a website of anews organization or other content provider. Without separate knowledgeof the content included in the news article, or some other form ofindependent verification or validation, the user may not be aware of thetrustworthiness, legitimacy, validity, accuracy, or lack thereof, of thenews article. For a content provider, such as the news organization,providing content that lacks some form of verification may lead toinaccurate content publications and the inability to provide a consumerof the content (e.g., the user) with an indication that content isvalid, which may negatively impact the credibility of the contentprovider and/or the perceived accuracy of the content.

Some implementations, described herein, may provide content validationusing blockchain technology. For example, content providers may requestcontent validation from a network of one or more content validationnodes (e.g., computing devices operating as nodes in a blockchainnetwork) or from a validation wrapper device (e.g., a computing devicedesigned to facilitate communications with the blockchain network). Acontent validation node may receive content data from a contentprovider, such as data identifying a network address of the content andother data indicative of the content, such as a hash value or otherindicia of the content. The content validation node may then execute avalidation process to assess the validity of the content, and store dataindicative of a validation result along with storing a hash (or otherindicia) of the content and storing a key associated with the contentvalidation node assessing the validity (e.g., for identification,traceability, compensation, and/or the like). The content validationnode may append a transaction including the aforementioned informationto a block of the content validation blockchain network; after consensusfrom other content validation nodes, the transaction becomes animmutable inclusion in the blockchain . . . . The blockchain may includea variety of information, including validation information that can beused by the content validation node to verify the trustworthiness,validity, legitimacy, accuracy, etc., of the content. For example, thevalidation information may include a smart contract, instructions, analgorithm, a process, and/or the like, which may specify a method forvalidating the content as being either accurate or inaccurate (or somemeasure or degree of accuracy), or trusted, valid, and/or the like.

As noted above, the content validation node may use the validationinformation to perform a validation process for the content and storethe results in the blockchain (e.g., the results of the validationprocess may be stored in the blockchain as a transaction). In someimplementations, after validating the content as accurate or inaccurate,the content validation node may include, in a transaction/block of theblockchain, data that enables the content provider to display the statusof the content (e.g., accurate or inaccurate, etc.). For example, thecontent validation node may store, in a transaction of a block, a scoreor result of the validation process and/or the status of the validationprocess for the content (e.g., accurate, inaccurate, trusted, untrusted,legitimate, verification in progress, and/or the like). In someimplementations, a validation wrapper device may interface with thecontent validation nodes of the content validation network to facilitatethe display of the status of the content. For example, the validationwrapper device may provide a service (e.g., a website, an application, abrowser extension, file server, and/or the like) capable of obtainingcontent validation information from the content validation network(e.g., from the blockchain, or the content validation node) andproviding the content provider and/or a user device with the data thatenables the content provider and/or user device to display the status ofthe content (e.g., directly, through a website, via email, through anapplication, through a browser extension, and/or the like). For example,the validation wrapper device may provide the content provider withinstructions that may be added to a web page that the content provideruses to display the content, and the instructions may cause the web page(e.g., when displayed on a user's user device) to display, in additionto the content, an indicator that indicates that the content has beenvalidated by the content validation network and is accurate,trustworthy, legitimate, valid, and/or the like.

In this way, one or more content validation nodes (and/or validationwrapper device) may enable content providers to obtain independentvalidation of content provided by the content provider. The use ofblockchain technology enables the content validation process to be openand available for inspection, including available for inspection byusers and content providers. In addition, due to blockchain technologybeing secured by cryptography and highly resistant to modification,content providers and users may be assured that the validation processwas properly, and consistently, performed for any given content of aplurality of content providers. For content validation nodes, and theentities that operate the content validation nodes, some implementationsenable compensation or other incentives to be provided to the entities(e.g., miners) associated with the content validation nodes in a mannerdesigned to be transparent to all users associated with the validationnetwork and content validation process. In addition, by performingcontent validation using a network of content validation nodes,significant computing resources may be conserved and the contentvalidation process may be performed faster, relative to manual contentvalidation approaches and/or non-distributed validation performed by asingle entity. Furthermore, the use of the network of content validationnodes may provide trustworthiness with respect to validationdeterminations, as opposed to content validation methods that might notbe as independent, open, secure, objective, and/or resistant tomodification.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an overview of an example implementation 100described herein. As shown in FIG. 1, example implementation 100 mayinclude a content provider device and one or more content validationnodes. In some implementations, the content provider device may be acomputing device (e.g., a server computer, personal computer, and/or thelike) associated with an entity that provides digital content (e.g., anews organization, an individual, a business organization, and/or thelike). The content validation nodes may include, in someimplementations, a variety of different types of devices (e.g., servercomputers, personal computers, and/or the like) that communicate withone another regarding content validation (e.g., via a network).

As shown in FIG. 1, and by reference number 110, the content providerdevice provides content data to at least one of the content validationnodes (referred to herein as “the content validation node,” even thoughthere might be multiple content validation nodes performing thefunctions described below). For example, the content provider device maybroadcast content data, or otherwise make content data available, in amanner designed to enable the content validation nodes to receive thecontent data (e.g., by a web crawler or other content aggregator, and/orfrom a user requesting content validation), or the content providerdevice may send the content data directly to the content validationnode. In some implementations, a validation wrapper device may be usedto provide an interface between the content provider device or userdevice and the content validation nodes (e.g., a validation wrapperdevice may receive content data from content provider device or userdevice and provide the content data to one or more content validationnodes for validation). A variety of information may be included in thecontent data. For example, the content data may include data identifyingthe content (e.g., a network address, such as a universal resourcelocator (URL)), data identifying the content provider (e.g., a contentprovider identifier, such as a public key associated with an author orsource and/or other entity associated with the content), a hash value ofthe content (e.g., a secure hash algorithm 2 (SHA-2) hash of the textincluded in or otherwise representing the content), and/or the like. Inthe example implementation, the content data includes data identifying anews article.

As further shown in FIG. 1, and by reference number 120, the contentvalidation node accesses or generates a blockchain associated withcontent validation. In some implementations, multiple differentblockchains may be used to perform content validation (e.g., differentblockchains for different content providers, different contentvalidation methods, different smart contracts, and/or the like). In someimplementations, a single blockchain may be used to perform contentvalidation (e.g., content from any or all content providers may bevalidated in the same blockchain). In a situation where multipleblockchains are used, and a content validation blockchain alreadyexists, the content validation node may, for example, use the dataidentifying the content and/or data identifying the content provider toidentify and access the blockchain associated with the content data. Ina situation where no blockchain associated with the content data exists,the content validation node may generate a blockchain (e.g., a genesisblock) for the content data and/or content provider (e.g., using thedata identifying the content and/or data identifying the contentprovider). In implementations where a single blockchain is used, thecontent validation node accesses the blockchain associated with thecontent data (e.g., accesses the smart contract included in the contentvalidation blockchain). As described in further detail below, theblockchain may include a variety of information.

As further shown in FIG. 1, and by reference number 130, the blockchainassociated with the content data (e.g., the blockchain accessed orgenerated at reference number 120) may include a variety of information.In the example implementation 100, the blockchain includes contentinformation, validation information, validation results, and blockchaindata. Content information may include the content itself and/orinformation related to the content (e.g., the content associated withthe blockchain), such as the data identifying the content (e.g., networkaddress), data identifying the content provider (e.g., content provideridentifier, author public key, and/or the like), a hash (or otherindicia) of the content, data identifying history of the content (e.g.,different versions of the content), and/or the like. Validationinformation may include information related to how the content is to bevalidated (e.g., specified in executable instructions, such as a smartcontract), such as a validation method, algorithm, or process, includingcriteria, sources, and/or the like, which may be used to determine theaccuracy, trustworthiness, legitimacy, validity, etc. of the content.Validation results may include information related to results ofperforming validation and may be stored as transactions in theblockchain. The validation results may depend on the method used forvalidation, and may include, for example, scores, values, and/orthresholds for various criteria used to determine the accuracy,trustworthiness, legitimacy, validity, etc. of the content. Blockchaindata may include information to enable the blockchain to function andmay include, for example, data identifying blocks of the blockchain(e.g., pointers to previous and/or next blocks), access controlinformation used to restrict entities that are permitted to edit theblockchain, and/or the like.

As further shown in FIG. 1, and by reference number 140, the contentvalidation node performs validation of the content using the validationinformation (e.g., the smart contract) in the blockchain. By way ofexample, the validation information may include an algorithm forevaluating the accuracy or trustworthiness, etc. of news articles byassigning values, or scores, for various attributes of the news article,such as a score for the number of quotes used, a score for the number ofreferences provided, a score for grammar, and/or the like. The examplealgorithm may also include weights for the various scores and a methodof combining the scores to produce a final score, or rating, for thenews article. The final score may be compared to predeterminedthresholds to determine whether the news article is likely to beaccurate, inaccurate, or somewhere in between.

As further shown in FIG. 1, and by reference number 150, the contentvalidation node stores the results of the validation process in theblockchain. Using the example above, the individual scores determinedfor the news article, and the final score and accuracy determination,may be stored in the blockchain. In some implementations, when storingthe validation results in the blockchain, the content validation nodemay store the results in one or more transactions associated with theblockchain (e.g., in a data structure designed to be resistant tomodification, such as a Merkle tree, hash list, and/or the like). In asituation where validation was previously performed on the content, insome implementations, a new block for the blockchain may be created tostore the validation results.

As further shown in FIG. 1, and by reference number 160, the contentvalidation node may generate content validation data based on thevalidation results. The content validation data is data that provides anindication of the accuracy of the content, e.g., as determined based onthe validation results. Many different types of content validation datamay be used, and in some implementations the content validation data maydepend on the type of content being validated. Example contentvalidation data may include data indicating the results of validation(e.g., the score(s) and/or ultimate determination regarding contentaccuracy, legitimacy, trustworthiness, etc.), data that causes displayof some indication regarding the validation results (e.g., web pageinstructions that cause a visual element to be displayed indicating thevalidation results), data that causes some indication regardingvalidation results to be embedded in the content (e.g., a digitalwatermark embedded in a digital document), and/or the like.

As further shown in FIG. 1, and by reference number 170, the contentvalidation node may provide the content validation data to the contentprovider device. In some implementations, a validation wrapper devicemay receive the content validation data (e.g., by accessing theblockchain where the content validation data is stored, or by receivingthe content validation data from the content validation node) andprovide, or otherwise make available, the content validation data to thecontent provider device and/or a user device. In the exampleimplementation 100, the content validation data includes data thatcauses a web page displaying the article to change its background and toalso include the language, “Validated Jan. 1, 2018,” to be displayedwith the news article. The content validation data may, in this example,include a network address for a web page constructed by the contentvalidation wrapper device or data that, when added to the original webpage that displays the news article, causes the web page to be displayedwith the visual indicators (e.g., the background change and the text).Providing the content provider device with content validation data mayenable the content provider to provide some indication of the accuracy,trustworthiness, legitimacy, validity, etc. of the content provider'scontent to users who consume the content.

As noted above, in this way, one or more content validation nodes(and/or validation wrapper device) may enable content providers toobtain independent validation of content provided by the contentproviders. The use of blockchain technology enables the contentvalidation process to be open and available for inspection, includingavailable for inspection by users and content providers. In addition,due to blockchain technology being secured by cryptography and highlyresistant to modification, content providers and users may be assuredthat the validation process was properly performed for any givencontent. For content validation nodes, and the entities that operate thecontent validation nodes, some implementations enable compensation orother incentives to be provided to the entities associated with thecontent validation nodes in a manner designed to be transparent to allusers associated with the validation network and content validationprocess. In addition, by performing content validation using a networkof content validation nodes, significant computing resources may beconserved and the content validation process may be performed faster,relative to manual content validation approaches and/or non-distributedvalidation performed by a single entity. Furthermore, the use of thenetwork of content validation nodes may provide trustworthiness withrespect to validation determinations, as opposed to content validationmethods that might not be as independent, open, secure, objective,and/or resistant to modification.

As indicated above, FIG. 1 is provided merely as an example. Otherexamples are possible and may differ from what was described with regardto FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an example environment 200 in which systemsand/or methods, described herein, may be implemented. As shown in FIG.2, environment 200 may include a content provider device 210, one ormore content validation nodes 220, user devices 230, network 240, andvalidation wrapper device 250. Devices of environment 200 mayinterconnect via wired connections, wireless connections, or acombination of wired and wireless connections.

Content provider device 210 includes one or more devices capable ofreceiving, generating, storing, processing, and/or providing informationassociated with content, such as digital content. For example, contentprovider device 210 may include a communication and/or computing device,such as a mobile phone (e.g., a smart phone, a radiotelephone, etc.), alaptop computer, a tablet computer, a handheld computer, a gamingdevice, a wearable communication device (e.g., a smart wristwatch, apair of smart eyeglasses, etc.), a global positioning system (GPS)device, a server device, a group of server devices, a network device(e.g., a firewall, a router, a gateway, a switch, a hub, a bridge, areverse proxy, a proxy server, a security device, an intrusion detectiondevice, a load balancer, etc.), or a similar type of device. In someimplementations, content provider device 210 is associated with acontent provider (e.g., an entity that provides digital content). Forexample, the content provider device 210 may be a personal computer of auser associated with an organization that provides content, a web serverthat provides a website for content, and/or the like. Content providerdevice 210 may be capable of providing one or more content validationnodes 220 and/or validation wrapper device 250 with content data, whichmay include the capability to hash content (e.g., using a hashingapplication installed on content provider device 210).

Content validation node 220 includes one or more devices capable ofreceiving, generating, storing, processing, validating, and/or providinginformation associated with content and blockchains. For example,content validation node 220 may include a device, such as a mobile phone(e.g., a smart phone, a radiotelephone, etc.), a laptop computer, atablet computer, a handheld computer, a gaming device, a wearablecommunication device (e.g., a smart wristwatch, a pair of smarteyeglasses, etc.), a server device, a group of server devices, a networkdevice (e.g., a firewall, a router, a gateway, a switch, a hub, abridge, a reverse proxy, a proxy server, a security device, an intrusiondetection device, a load balancer, etc.), a cloud computing device, adata center device, or a similar type of device.

In some implementations, content validation node 220 may includehardware and/or software to enable storage and manipulation ofblockchains and communications with other content validation nodes 220(e.g., via network 240). For example, content validation node 220 mayinclude a data storage device for storing one or more blockchains. Insome implementations, multiple content validation nodes 220 maycollectively provide a content validation service, e.g., where any onecontent validation node 220 (or multiple content validation nodes 220)may be able to provide content validation services using one or moreblockchains maintained by a network of content validation nodes 220. Insome implementations, one or more content validation nodes 220 may bedesignated as a central authority for a content validation service,e.g., the central authority being a content validation node 220 that mayprovide identity and access management functions, genesis block creationfor new blockchains, and/or the like for the network of contentvalidation nodes 220.

In some implementations, one or more of the functions performed bycontent validation node 220 may be hosted in a cloud computingenvironment or may be partially hosted in a cloud computing environment.In some implementations, content validation node 220 may be a physicaldevice implemented within a housing, such as a chassis. In someimplementations, content validation node 220 may be a virtual deviceimplemented by one or more computer devices of a cloud computingenvironment or a data center.

User device 230 includes one or more devices capable of receiving,generating, storing, processing, and/or providing information associatedwith content. For example, user device 230 may include a device, such asa mobile phone (e.g., a smart phone, a radiotelephone, etc.), a laptopcomputer, a tablet computer, a handheld computer, a gaming device, awearable communication device (e.g., a smart wristwatch, a pair of smarteyeglasses, etc.), or a similar type of device. User device 230 mayinclude one or more applications designed to enable user device 230 toconsume digital content, such as a web browsing application, documentprocessing application, image viewing application, and/or the like.

Network 240 includes one or more wired and/or wireless networks. Forexample, network 240 may include a cellular network (e.g., a long-termevolution (LTE) network, a code division multiple access (CDMA) network,a 3G network, a 4G network, a 5G network, another type of nextgeneration network, etc.), a public land mobile network (PLMN), a localarea network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a metropolitan areanetwork (MAN), a telephone network (e.g., the Public Switched TelephoneNetwork (PSTN)), a private network, an ad hoc network, an intranet, theInternet, a fiber optic-based network, a cloud computing network, and/orthe like, and/or a combination of these or other types of networks.

Validation wrapper device 250 includes one or more devices capable ofreceiving, generating, storing, processing, and/or providing informationassociated with content and blockchains. For example, validation wrapperdevice 250 may include a communication and/or computing device, such asa mobile phone (e.g., a smart phone, a radiotelephone, etc.), a laptopcomputer, a tablet computer, a handheld computer, a gaming device, awearable communication device (e.g., a smart wristwatch, a pair of smarteyeglasses, etc.), server device, a group of server devices, a networkdevice or a similar type of device. In some implementations, validationwrapper device 250 may provide an interface between content providerdevice 210 and content validation nodes 220. For example, validationwrapper device 250 may include one or more applications and/or servicesdesigned to enable content provider device 210 to provide content datato content validation nodes 220 for validation, and enable contentprovider device 210 to receive results of content validation. Validationwrapper device 250 may provide, for example, a website designed toenable content provider device 210 and/or user device 230 to submit dataidentifying content, and validation wrapper device 250 may communicatewith content validation nodes 220 to cause the content validationprocess to occur. Validation wrapper device 250 may also provide aninterface between user devices 230 and the blockchain, to enable usersto request or verify a validation of content. In some embodiments,validation wrapper device 250 may provide a website, browser extension,application, and/or the like, for receiving validation/verificationrequests and for providing details of a validation result.

While validation wrapper device 250 and user device 230 are shownseparately in FIG. 2, in some implementations, validation wrapper device250 and user device 230 may be implemented on the same hardware device.For example, validation wrapper device 250 may include a smart phoneoperated by a user, the smart phone including a first application (e.g.,a web browser application, content provider application, or the like)for browsing content provided by content providers associated withcontent provider device 210, and a second application (e.g., a webbrowser extension application, application plugin, or the like) forinterfacing with content validation nodes 220. In this example, a usermay use the first application to browse content, and the secondapplication to communicate with the blockchain, cause content validationto occur, and/or display results of the content validation on the smartphone.

In some implementations, one or more of the functions performed byvalidation wrapper device 250 may be hosted in a cloud computingenvironment or may be partially hosted in a cloud computing environment.In some implementations, validation wrapper device 250 may be a physicaldevice implemented within a housing, such as a chassis. In someimplementations, validation wrapper device 250 may be a virtual deviceimplemented by one or more computer devices of a cloud computingenvironment or a data center

The number and arrangement of devices and networks shown in FIG. 2 areprovided as an example. In practice, there may be additional devicesand/or networks, fewer devices and/or networks, different devices and/ornetworks, or differently arranged devices and/or networks than thoseshown in FIG. 2. Furthermore, two or more devices shown in FIG. 2 may beimplemented within a single device, or a single device shown in FIG. 2may be implemented as multiple, distributed devices. Additionally, oralternatively, a set of devices (e.g., one or more devices) ofenvironment 200 may perform one or more functions described as beingperformed by another set of devices of environment 200.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of example components of a device 300. Device 300may correspond to content provider device 210, content validation node220, user device 230, and/or validation wrapper device 250. In someimplementations, content provider device 210, content validation node220, user device 230, and/or validation wrapper device 250 may includeone or more devices 300 and/or one or more components of device 300. Asshown in FIG. 3, device 300 may include a bus 310, a processor 320, amemory 330, a storage component 340, an input component 350, an outputcomponent 360, and a communication interface 370.

Bus 310 includes a component that permits communication among thecomponents of device 300. Processor 320 is implemented in hardware,firmware, or a combination of hardware and software. Processor 320 is acentral processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), anaccelerated processing unit (APU), a microprocessor, a microcontroller,a digital signal processor (DSP), a field-programmable gate array(FPGA), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or anothertype of processing component. In some implementations, processor 320includes one or more processors capable of being programmed to perform afunction. Memory 330 includes a random access memory (RAM), a read onlymemory (ROM), and/or another type of dynamic or static storage device(e.g., a flash memory, a magnetic memory, and/or an optical memory) thatstores information and/or instructions for use by processor 320.

Storage component 340 stores information and/or software related to theoperation and use of device 300. For example, storage component 340 mayinclude a hard disk (e.g., a magnetic disk, an optical disk, amagneto-optic disk, and/or a solid state disk), a compact disc (CD), adigital versatile disc (DVD), a floppy disk, a cartridge, a magnetictape, and/or another type of non-transitory computer-readable medium,along with a corresponding drive.

Input component 350 includes a component that permits device 300 toreceive information, such as via user input (e.g., a touch screendisplay, a keyboard, a keypad, a mouse, a button, a switch, and/or amicrophone). Additionally, or alternatively, input component 350 mayinclude a sensor for sensing information (e.g., a global positioningsystem (GPS) component, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and/or anactuator). Output component 360 includes a component that providesoutput information from device 300 (e.g., a display, a speaker, and/orone or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs)).

Communication interface 370 includes a transceiver-like component (e.g.,a transceiver and/or a separate receiver and transmitter) that enablesdevice 300 to communicate with other devices, such as via a wiredconnection, a wireless connection, or a combination of wired andwireless connections. Communication interface 370 may permit device 300to receive information from another device and/or provide information toanother device. For example, communication interface 370 may include anEthernet interface, an optical interface, a coaxial interface, aninfrared interface, a radio frequency (RF) interface, a universal serialbus (USB) interface, a Wi-Fi interface, a cellular network interface,and/or the like.

Device 300 may perform one or more processes described herein. Device300 may perform these processes based on processor 320 executingsoftware instructions stored by a non-transitory computer-readablemedium, such as memory 330 and/or storage component 340. Acomputer-readable medium is defined herein as a non-transitory memorydevice. A memory device includes memory space within a single physicalstorage device or memory space spread across multiple physical storagedevices.

Software instructions may be read into memory 330 and/or storagecomponent 340 from another computer-readable medium or from anotherdevice via communication interface 370. When executed, softwareinstructions stored in memory 330 and/or storage component 340 may causeprocessor 320 to perform one or more processes described herein.Additionally, or alternatively, hardwired circuitry may be used in placeof or in combination with software instructions to perform one or moreprocesses described herein. Thus, implementations described herein arenot limited to any specific combination of hardware circuitry andsoftware.

The number and arrangement of components shown in FIG. 3 are provided asan example. In practice, device 300 may include additional components,fewer components, different components, or differently arrangedcomponents than those shown in FIG. 3. Additionally, or alternatively, aset of components (e.g., one or more components) of device 300 mayperform one or more functions described as being performed by anotherset of components of device 300.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of an example process 400 for performing contentvalidation using a blockchain. In some implementations, one or moreprocess blocks of FIG. 4 may be performed by a content validation node220, though, in practice, different process blocks might be performed bydifferent content validations nodes 220 or a single one of these processblocks might be performed collectively by multiple content validationnodes 220. In some implementations, one or more process blocks of FIG. 4may be performed by another device or a group of devices separate fromor including content validation nodes 220, such as content providerdevice 210, user device 230, or validation wrapper device 250.

As shown in FIG. 4, process 400 may include receiving content data froma content provider (block 410). For example, content validation node 220may receive (e.g., using processor 320, communication interface 370,and/or the like) content data from content provider device 210. In someimplementations, content validation node 220 may receive content datafrom validation wrapper device 250 (e.g., validation wrapper device 250may have been previously provided with content data from contentprovider device 210 or receive a user request to validate content fromuser device 230). Content data may include a variety of informationrelated to content that is provided or will be provided by the contentprovider associated with content provider device 210.

Content data may include, for example, data identifying the content, ahash of the content, data identifying the content provider, incentiveinformation (e.g., including compensation information), and/or the like.Data identifying the content is designed to enable content validationnode 220 to identify the content and may include, for example, a networkaddress associated with the content (e.g., a universal resource locator(URL)).

The hash (or other indicia) of the content is designed to providereasonable or cryptographically secured assurance that the content to bevalidated matches the content identified in the content data. Forexample, by providing content validation node 220 with a hash of thecontent, content validation node 220, or another device, may obtain thecontent (e.g., from the network address provided in the content data),hash the content, and compare the results to the hash that was providedin the content data to ensure that the content being validated matchesthe content that the content provider is making available to users.

The data identifying the content provider may be any identifier,including, for example, a public key associated with the contentprovider or some other form of identification. The data identifying thecontent provider may be used in a variety of ways, such as an identifierfor identifying the blockchain to be used to validate the content, anidentifier enabling a transfer of compensation from the contentprovider, and/or the like.

Compensation information, or incentive information, may includeinformation designed to enable an entity associated with contentvalidation node 220 to be provided with compensation for performing thevalidation process on the content. Compensation information may include,for example, a smart contract designed to trigger a transfer of funds oranother incentive upon completion of the validation, an amount ofcompensation offered for performing the validation, account dataassociated with the content provider, and/or the like.

While the examples above provide several different types of informationthat may be included in content data, content validation node 220 mayreceive a variety of information in content data, including more, less,and/or different information than that provided in the examples. In thisway, content validation node 220 may receive content data from a contentprovider, enabling content validation node 220 to access or generate ablockchain associated with the content data and perform a contentvalidation process on the content (e.g., to determine the accuracy ofthe content).

As further shown in FIG. 4, process 400 may include accessing orgenerating a blockchain associated with the content data (block 420).For example, content validation node 220 may access or generate (e.g.,using processor 320, memory 330, storage component 340, and/or the like)a blockchain associated with the content data. The blockchain may beassociated with the content data based on the blockchain being used forvalidating the content data. In some implementations, content validationnode 220 may access a blockchain associated with the content data byaccessing data included in a pre-existing blockchain associated withvalidating content. In some embodiments, a pre-existing blockchain maybe associated with the content provider or type of content data, orbased on some other association with the content data. For example,information included in the content data may be used to identifyexisting blockchain data stored by or otherwise accessible to contentvalidation node 220. In some implementations, content validation node220 may generate a blockchain (e.g., in a situation where nopre-existing blockchain, or no pre-existing blockchain associated withthe content data, exists). For example, information included in thecontent data may be used to generate a genesis block to start ablockchain for the content data. In some implementations, one blockchainmay be used to perform content validation. In this situation, contentvalidation node 220 may access the data included in the blockchain basedon receipt of the content data (e.g., the content data may includeinformation indicating that the content data is to be validated).

In a situation where no blockchain exists yet for the content data,content validation node 220 may generate a blockchain. For example,content validation node 220 may generate a genesis block for theblockchain that is to be associated with the content data. The genesisblock may include, for example, a timestamp, and an index valueassociated with the content provider or the content (e.g., an identifierassociated with the content or content provider), a smart contract, andother information that may be included in the content data (e.g., dataidentifying the content, the hash of the content, compensationinformation, and/or the like).

In some implementations, content data may be included in a block of theblockchain that is different from the genesis block, such as a secondblock in the blockchain. Additional blocks, such as the second block,may include a hash of data associated with the previous block in theblockchain, in a manner designed to enhance the security of theblockchain as more blocks are added. The blockchain may also includevalidation information, e.g., executable code, such as a smart contract,including instructions that enable content validation node 220 toperform validation on the content.

In some implementations, any content validation node 220 may generate ablockchain to be associated with content data, and in someimplementations (e.g., in a permissioned blockchain), a contentvalidation node 220 acting as the central authority for a permissionedblockchain validation service may generate the blockchain. In asituation where content validation node 220 generates a new blockchain,content validation node 220 may notify other content validation nodes220 of the creation of the new blockchain, e.g., in a manner designed toenable the other content validation nodes 220 to update their blockchaindata storage accordingly. While the foregoing describes one exampleimplementation for generating a blockchain associated with content data,other methods for generating a blockchain may be used, including methodsthat include more information, less information, and/or differentinformation in the blockchain.

In a situation where a blockchain associated with the content dataalready exists, content validation node 220 may access data stored inthe blockchain (e.g., executable instructions stored in a smartcontract). In some implementations, the blockchain may be associatedwith content validation (e.g., for all content, in implementations whereall content validation is performed based on one blockchain). Whenaccessing the blockchain, content validation node 220 may access a mostrecent block in the blockchain, which may include a variety ofinformation, such as transactions for previous content validations, orthe information described as being included in the blockchain whengenerated (e.g., smart contract information, information included in thecontent data, validation information, and/or the like). In someimplementations, such as an implementation involving a permissionedblockchain, an existing transaction, block, or blockchain may have beenpreviously generated by one or more different content validation nodes220 (e.g., separate content validation nodes 220 included in adistributed system of content validation nodes 220), where portions of acontent validation process may be performed by different contentvalidation nodes 220.

While the examples above indicate that content validation node 220accesses or generates a block and/or blockchain (e.g., includinggenerating a new block or a genesis block on a blockchain) associatedwith the content data, in some implementations, content validation node220 may, more specifically, access or generate a block or transactionassociated with the content data. For example, a blockchain may beassociated with many types of content data, and each transaction in ablock of the blockchain may correspond to particular content (e.g., withvalidation results associated with the particular content being includedin a transaction associated with the particular content). In thissituation, content validation node 220 may access or generate aparticular block of a blockchain that is associated with validating thecontent data.

In this way, content validation node 220 may access or generate ablockchain associated with the content data, enabling content validationnode 220 to use data included in the blockchain (e.g., executableinstructions, such as a smart contract) to perform validation of thecontent associated with the content data (e.g., in a manner designed todetermine the accuracy of the content).

As further shown in FIG. 4, process 400 may include validating contentspecified by the content data (block 430). For example, contentvalidation node 220 may validate (e.g., using processor 320, memory 330,storage component 340, and/or the like) the content specified by thecontent data. Validating the content includes determining whether thecontent is accurate, legitimate, trustworthy, valid, and/or the like,based on information included in (or a protocol of) a content validationblockchain. For example, the content validation blockchain may includevalidation information (e.g., executable instructions, such as a smartcontract, algorithm, process, method, formula, and/or the like) designedto enable content validation node 220 to validate the content.

The validation information included in the blockchain provides themanner in which the content is to be validated, e.g., the manner inwhich the accuracy or validity, etc. of the content is to be determined.For example, the validation information may include an algorithm thatspecifies instructions for content validation node 220 to follow todetermine the accuracy of the content. The algorithm may take a varietyof forms, and may use a variety of techniques for determining theaccuracy of the content. For example, an algorithm may direct contentvalidation node 220 to analyze various features of text, includinganalyzing other sources of information (e.g., similar news articles,scholarly articles, literature, and/or the like), to determine whethertextual content is accurate. To validate content that includes an image,an algorithm may direct content validation node 220 to analyze the imageto determine whether image editing software may have been used on theimage and/or may compare the image to other images that might beavailable from other sources (e.g., other websites). To validate contentthat includes audio or video, an algorithm may direct content validationnode 220 to analyze the audio to determine whether audio/video editingsoftware may have been used to edit the audio and/or may compare theaudio/video to other copies of the audio/video that might be availablefrom other sources.

An algorithm to determine the accuracy of content may, for example,evaluate one or more features associated with the content (e.g.,spelling accuracy, grammatical accuracy, number of quotations used,and/or the like), where each feature is designed to provide anindication regarding the accuracy of the content. In someimplementations, content validation node 220 may produce a score orother indicator that indicates whether the content is likely to beaccurate, inaccurate, or if accuracy cannot be determined. In someimplementations, an algorithm or formula to determine the accuracy ofcontent may be a supervised or unsupervised machine learning model, suchas a model that has been trained to receive, as input, one or morecontent features and produce, as output, a measure of likelihood thatthe content is accurate.

The validation information (e.g., and any included algorithm, process,method, formula, and/or the like) may be predetermined at the time ablockchain associated with the content is created. For example, whencreating a blockchain for content validation, a smart contract (or aplurality of chained smart contracts) that includes the contentvalidation information may have been previously determined by an entitythat developed the smart contract. As another example, when using apermissioned blockchain, content validation node 220 may include thevalidation information in the blockchain at the time the blockchain iscreated (e.g., by using a stored copy of validation information and/orobtaining the validation information from a central authority approvedfor providing validation information for a network of content validationnodes 220).

Content validation node 220 may, in some implementations, update thevalidation information. An update to the validation information may, forexample, be provided by content validation node 220 acting as a centralauthority for a network of content validation nodes 220. As anotherexample, validation information may be updated based on adoption of theupdated validation information by a consensus of content validationnodes 220 included in the network of content validation nodes 220. Insome implementations, an update to validation information may causecontent validation node 220 to re-validate previously validated contentwith the updated validation information. In some implementations, anupdate to validation information may cause content validation node 220to use the updated validation information for future contentvalidations. In some implementations, content validation node 220 mayperform content validation using updated validation information on asubset of previously validated content (e.g., a subset defined by dataincluded in or otherwise associated with the updated validationinformation).

By way of example, content validation node 220 may perform validation ofcontent associated with content data by evaluating features that includeone or more parameters (e.g., validation parameters) that each providesan indication of the accuracy, trustworthiness, legitimacy, validity,etc. of the content. Example parameters may include a value indicating ameasure of confidence that quotes included in the content are accurate,a value indicating a measure of confidence that a title associated withthe content matches a meaning associated with the content, a valueindicating a measure of confidence that the content provider is aprovider of valid content, a value indicating a peer consensus scorethat indicates a degree to which peers of the content provider areassociated with peer content similar to the content, a value indicatinga measure of confidence that facts presented in the content areaccurate, a value indicating a measure of quality associated with agrammar of the content, a value indicating a measure of qualityassociated with a tone of the content, and/or the like. The examplevalues, and/or other values that provide an indication of the accuracy,trustworthiness, legitimacy, validity, etc. of the content, may bedetermined in a variety of ways, including being determined directly bycontent validation node 220 (e.g., using instructions included in thevalidation information) and/or determined by one or more third partydevices from which content validation node 220 may request the value(s).

For example, content validation node 220 may determine the valueindicating the measure of confidence that quotes included in the contentare accurate based on a number of quotes included in the content, thenumber of quotes included in the content relative to non-quote textincluded in the content, the length of quotes that are included in thecontent, modifications to quotes included in the content (e.g.,indicated by square brackets). The measure of confidence for quotes mayalso be determined by comparing quotes included in the text to determinethe number of other sources available for that quote (e.g., determinedby searching and comparing the usage of a given quote in other contentfrom other content providers).

As another example, content validation node 220 may determine the valueindicating the measure of confidence that a title associated with thecontent matches a meaning associated with the content using one or moretextual analysis techniques. For example, a textual analysis techniquedesigned to determine the meaning of text may be applied to the title ofthe content and the content as a whole, or to various portions of thecontent, in a manner designed to determine how well the derived meaningof the title matches the derived meaning of the remainder of thecontent. The textual analysis techniques may include, for example,classification of text, text clustering, concept and/or entityextraction, sentiment analysis, document summarization, entityrelationship modeling (e.g., learning relationships between entities),and/or the like. A low confidence in the meaning of the title matchingthe meaning of the content may reduce the likelihood that content isdetermined to be accurate or trustworthy, relative to situations wherecontent validation node 220 has a high confidence that the meaning ofthe title matches the meaning of the content.

Content validation node 220 may, as another example, determine the valueindicating the measure of confidence that the content provider is aprovider of valid, trustworthy, or accurate content by analyzing ahistory associated with the content provider or a source or authorassociated with the content provider. For example, content validationnode 220 may consider, in evaluating the history of a content provider,previous determinations regarding the accuracy, trustworthiness,legitimacy, validity, etc. of content provided by the content provider.Other measures of content provider reputation may also be used,including third party measures of content provider reputation or historyfor accuracy. A higher confidence that the content provider is aprovider of accurate content may increase the likelihood that contentvalidation node 220 determines the content is accurate, relative to alower confidence that the content provider is a provider of accuratecontent. In some implementations, the measure of confidence that thecontent provider is a provider of valid, trustworthy, or accuratecontent may be determined, at least in part, based on an affiliation orother characteristic of the content provider, such as a geographiclocation or organization with which the content provider is affiliated.In addition, a category or subject of the content may also affect themeasure of confidence. By way of example, in a situation where thecontent includes political content, and the content provider isaffiliated or otherwise associated with an organization or geographiclocation associated with a lack of political knowledge and/or politicalbias, the measure of confidence (that the source is accurate,trustworthy, etc.) may be relatively low.

Content validation node 220 may, as another example, determine the valueindicating the peer consensus score that indicates a degree to whichpeers of the content provider are associated with peer content similarto the content. The peer consensus score may be determined, for example,by evaluating the extent to which the content has been peer reviewed.Additionally, or alternatively, the peer consensus score may bedetermined by evaluating content provided by other content providers todetermine similarities between the content and content provided by othercontent providers. The comparison may be performed, for example, usingtextual analysis techniques designed to determine features of the textthat indicate a meaning associated with the text (e.g., textual analysistechniques similar to those used to determine whether the meaning of thetitle of the content matches the remainder of the content).

Content validation node 220 may, as another example, determine the valueindicating the measure of confidence that facts presented in the contentare accurate by performing textual analysis to identify facts includedin the content and independently verify the facts using other sources ofinformation. For example, content validation node 220 may use a thirdparty fact checking service and/or search for independent reliablesources of facts that are included in the content. Content validationnode 220 may determine that a higher ratio of facts in the content thatcan be independently verified (relative to those that cannot beindependently verified), the higher the measure of confidence in theaccuracy of the facts. In addition, facts within the content that aredetermined to be inaccurate (e.g., based on counter-facts available fromother sources), may result in a low confidence that the facts presentedin the content are accurate. In some implementations, inaccurate factsmay be associated with a separate parameter (e.g., in a manner designedto enable a high weight to be assigned to an inaccurate fact parameter,enabling effective penalization for the use of inaccurate facts).

Content validation node 220 may, as another example, determine the valueindicating the measure of quality associated with a grammar of thecontent using a textual analysis technique. Grammar analysis techniquesmay be used to identify grammatical errors, which may provide anindication regarding the lack of professionalism associated with thecontent, which may reduce the confidence that the content provider is ahigh quality source of content. Similarly, spell checking techniques maybe used by content validation node 220 for the same purpose (e.g.,errors reducing the confidence that the content provider is a highquality source of content). In some implementations, content validationnode 220 may determine that a quality associated with the contentprovider (e.g., determined based on grammar and spelling analysis of thecontent) may affect the confidence in the accuracy, trustworthiness,legitimacy, validity, etc. of the content provided by the contentprovider.

Content validation node 220 may, as another example, determine the valueindicating the measure of quality associated with a tone of the contentusing one or more textual analysis techniques and/or third partyanalysis. For example, a sentiment analysis technique may be used toprovide an indication of the tone of the content (e.g., aggressive,informative, defensive, and/or the like). Additionally, oralternatively, the format and content of text included in the contentmay provide an indication regarding the tone of the content (e.g., useof superlative language, capitalizing all letters of a word and/orwords, use of exclamation points, and/or the like). Similar to grammarand/or spelling analysis, analysis of the tone of the content mayprovide an indication regarding the quality of the content provider.Content validation node 220 may determine that the quality associatedwith the content provider may affect the confidence in the accuracy,trustworthiness, legitimacy, validity, etc. of the content provided bythe content provider.

In some implementations, content validation node 220 may determine afinal score (e.g., an evaluation score, aggregate score, and/or thelike), based on a combination of values associated with parameters thatmay indicate the accuracy, trustworthiness, legitimacy, validity, etc.of the content, such as two or more (or all) of the example valuesdescribed above. For example, the validation information included in theblockchain may include a formula for combining the values of one or moreparameters. In some implementations, values may be associated with aweight that causes some values associated with some parameters to affectthe resulting final score more than other values associated with otherparameters. For example, a first weight associated with the valuedetermined for the parameter associated with how accurate the factsincluded in the content are, may be higher than a second weightassociated with the value determined for the parameter associated withhow grammatically correct the content is (e.g., causing, in thisexample, factual accuracy of the content to have a greater effect on thefinal accuracy score than grammatical accuracy of the content). As notedabove, in some implementations, content validation node 220 may make useof a machine learning model to determine weights for values associatedwith parameters and a formula for determining a final score indicatingaccuracy of the content.

In some implementations, the final score may be the result of validationperformed by content validation node 220. The final score may be anyvalue, such as a value between 0 and 1, which provides an indication ofthe accuracy, trustworthiness, etc. of the content (e.g., 0 beingcompletely inaccurate and/or untrustworthy and 1 being perfectlyaccurate and/or trustworthy). In some implementations, contentvalidation node 220 may use one or more thresholds to determine whetherthe content is accurate, trustworthy, legitimate, etc. For example, afirst threshold (e.g., 0.75 on a 0 to 1 scale) may be used to determinethat content is accurate when the final score provided as a result ofthe validation process meets the first threshold. A second threshold(e.g., 0.25 on a 0 to 1 scale) may be used to determine that content isinaccurate when the final score provided as a result of the validationprocess does not meet the second threshold. In some implementations, afinal score that is in between two thresholds may be used to determinethat the accuracy of the content is identified as potentiallyinaccurate, of questionable accuracy, or otherwise unable to beclassified as either accurate or inaccurate.

While several examples have been provided, above, for enabling contentvalidation node 220 to validate content, a variety of other methods,algorithms, processes, and/or the like for validating content may beincluded in validation information of the blockchain associated with thecontent data. In addition, while the examples provided above aredescribed as being performed by content validation node 220, in someimplementations, multiple content validation nodes 220 may be used tovalidate content. For example, one content validation node may perform aportion of the content validation process (e.g., performing grammar andspelling analysis, and/or the like), while another content validationnode performs a different portion of the content validation process(e.g., performing content tone analysis, and/or the like). In this way,content validation node 220 may validate the content specified by thecontent data, enabling content validation node 220 to determine whetherthe content is accurate, trustworthy, legitimate, valid, etc., and storethe results of the validation in the blockchain associated with thecontent data, and perform an action based on the results.

As further shown in FIG. 4, process 400 may include storing validationresults in the blockchain as a transaction (block 440). For example,content validation node 220 may store (e.g., using processor 320, memory330, storage component 340, and/or the like) the validation results as atransaction in the blockchain associated with the content data.Transactions may be stored, for example, in one of a variety of datastructures within a block of the blockchain, such as a Merkle tree, hashlist, and/or the like. Content validation node 220 may store a varietyof information as transaction data of a blockchain, such as valuesassociated with parameters used to determine the accuracy of thecontent, including a final score and/or determination regardingaccuracy, status information or a status identifier indicating thestatus of the validation process (e.g., in process, complete, or notstarted). By storing the results of validation in the blockchain as atransaction, content validation node 220 creates a record of thevalidation process that is open and secure (e.g., resistant to changes,due the nature of blockchain technology).

In some implementations, results for other validation processesperformed by content validation nodes 220 may be stored in transactiondata of a particular block of the blockchain. For example, validationresults stored as transactions in a blockchain may include the resultsof other validation processes in a situation where other contentvalidation nodes 220 performed some or all of the validation process onthe same content, or a situation where content validation node 220 orother content validation nodes 220 performed the validation on aprevious version of the content. In this situation, content validationnode 220 may store the validation results as a transaction in thecurrent block of the blockchain (e.g., by adding the results as atransaction to the data structure of transactions, such as the Merkletree or hash list), or content validation node 220 may store thevalidation results in a new transaction in a new block of theblockchain.

In some implementations, whether content validation node 220 appendsvalidation results to an existing data structure for transactions in anexisting block, or creates a new block in the blockchain, may depend onthe manner in which the blockchain is configured. For example, in someimplementations, the blockchain may be configured in a manner designedto cause all transactions for different content (e.g., including contentthat has been updated) to be stored in a new block. In someimplementations, the blockchain may be configured to create a new blockwhen a limit of transactions is reached and/or when a time limit fromthe previous transaction has been reached.

In this way, content validation node 220 may store the validationresults as a transaction in the blockchain associated with the contentdata, enabling content validation node 220 to provide a secure and openrecord of the content validation process and results.

As further shown in FIG. 4, process 400 may include performing an actionbased on the validation results (block 450). For example, contentvalidation node 220 may perform (e.g., using processor 320,communication interface 370, and/or the like) an action based on thevalidation results. In some implementations, content validation node 220may perform a variety of actions, including, for example, notifyingother devices (such as content provider device 210, user devices 230,and/or validation wrapper device 250) regarding the results of thevalidation and/or generating data that enables other devices (such ascontent provider device 210, user devices 230, and/or validation wrapperdevice 250) to provide and/or perceive information regarding the resultsof the validation.

For example, in some implementations, content validation node 220 mayprovide content provider device 210 or validation wrapper device 250with data indicating the results of the validation process. For example,in some implementations, content validation node 220 may provide contentprovider device 210 or validation wrapper device 250 with dataindicating a determination regarding the accuracy of the content (e.g.,accurate, inaccurate, or unable to verify the accuracy, trusted, etc.).In some implementations, content validation node 220 may provide contentprovider device 210 or validation wrapper device 250 with dataindicating individual values and/or scores used to determine whether thecontent is accurate, trustworthy, legitimate, and/or the like. Providingcontent provider device 210 (or validation wrapper device 250) with dataindicating the results of the validation process may enable the contentprovider associated with content provider device 210 (or entityassociated with validation wrapper device 250) to take action based onthe results (e.g., correct inaccuracies, advertise the accuracy of thecontent, and/or the like).

In some implementations, content validation node 220 may provide othercontent validation nodes 220 with data indicating the results of thevalidation process. For example, other content validation nodes 220 in anetwork of content validation nodes 220 may use the results of thevalidation process to update their own records regarding the validationof the content and/or to independently perform validation of the content(e.g., in a manner to provide confirmation of the validation process,which may also be stored in the blockchain).

In some implementations, content validation node 220 may provide a thirdparty device with data indicating the results of the validation process.For example, third party devices may include user devices 230 and/ordevices associated with other entities that may be interested inobtaining information regarding the validation of content, such asindustry monitors, news organizations, professional organizations,and/or the like.

In some implementations, content validation node 220 may causecompensation to be transferred between accounts of entities associatedwith the content validation process. For example, the content providerassociated with the content may offer compensation to content validationnodes 220 for validating the content to determine its accuracy. Thecompensation may be predetermined (e.g., by smart contract) and/or basedon the content data (e.g., compensation offered by content provider).Content validation node 220 may cause compensation to be transferred toan account of an entity associated with content validation node 220(e.g., by providing a receipt, bill, or other data to content providerdevice 210 or another device designated to receive the receipt, bill, orother data). In some implementations, instructions that cause thetransfer of compensation may be included in a smart contract associatedwith the blockchain. The smart contract may include, for example, datathat includes executable instructions designed to trigger the transferof funds or another type of compensation upon a condition being met(e.g., in a manner similar to an Ethereum blockchain implementation).

In some implementations, content validation node 220 may generate datathat causes presentation of an indication regarding the results ofvalidation. For example, content validation node 220 may generate andstore, in the transaction created during content validation, data thatis an indication regarding the accuracy of the content to be presentedwhen the content is presented to another device, such as user device230. For example, the content validation node 220 may generate an audioand/or visual indication regarding whether the content is accurate. Asanother example, content validation node 220 may generate instructions(e.g., code) that can be inserted into a web page or web page elementassociated with the content (e.g., by content provider device 210 and/orvalidation wrapper device 250). When the instructions are executed(e.g., by a web browsing application of user device 230 when accessingthe web page associated with the content), the instructions may causepresentation of some indicator regarding the accuracy of the content.

A variety of indicators may be used to indicate whether the content isaccurate. For example, audio indicators may include an audio clip of avoiceover indicating whether the content is accurate. Example visualindicators may include a web page watermark (including a digitalwatermark designed to be hidden in the web page source code), abackground pattern or color, a pop-up displaying validation results, aweb page element capable of presenting a variety of graphics and/orother information based on the validation results, an overlay on top ofthe content (e.g., including highlighting and/or annotations for text),text that may be added to the content that provides information based onthe validation results, and/or the like. Some example visual indicatorsare provided and discussed below, with respect to FIGS. 6A-6D.

While some example actions are described above, content validation node220 may be capable of performing a variety of actions designed tofacilitate the validation of content to determine the accuracy,trustworthiness, legitimacy, validity, etc. of the content, enablingusers consuming the content to receive assurance regarding the accuracy,trustworthiness, legitimacy, validity, etc. of the content.

In this way, content validation nodes 220 may enable content providersto obtain independent validation of content provided by the contentprovider. The use of blockchain technology enables the contentvalidation process to be open and available for inspection, includingavailable for inspection by users and content providers. In addition,due to blockchain technology being secured by cryptography and highlyresistant to modification, content providers and users may be assuredthat the validation process was properly performed for any givencontent. Using a content validation blockchain may further provide astandard for what content is considered accurate, truthful, trustworthy,and/or the like. For content validation nodes 220, and the entities thatoperate the content validation nodes 220, some implementations enablecompensation to be provided to the entities associated with the contentvalidation nodes 220 in a manner designed to be transparent to all usersassociated with a validation network and content validation process. Inaddition, by performing content validation using a network of contentvalidation nodes 220, significant computing resources may be conservedand the content validation process may be performed faster, relative tomanual content validation approaches. Furthermore, the use of a networkof content validation nodes 220 may provide trustworthiness with respectto validation determinations, as opposed to content validation methodsthat might not be as independent, open, secure, and/or resistant tomodification.

Although FIG. 4 shows example blocks of process 400, in someimplementations, process 400 may include additional blocks, fewerblocks, different blocks, or differently arranged blocks than thosedepicted in FIG. 4. Additionally, or alternatively, two or more of theblocks of process 400 may be performed in parallel.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of an example process 500 for performing contentvalidation using a network of content validation nodes. In someimplementations, one or more process blocks of FIG. 5 may be performedby a validation wrapper device 250, though, in practice, differentprocess blocks might be performed by different validation wrapperdevices 250 or a single one of these process blocks might be performedcollectively by multiple validation wrapper devices 250. In someimplementations, one or more process blocks of FIG. 5 may be performedby another device or a group of devices separate from or includingvalidation wrapper device 250, such as content provider device 210,content validation nodes 220, or user device 230.

As shown in FIG. 5, process 500 may include receiving first content datafrom a content provider (block 510). For example, validation wrapperdevice 250 may receive (e.g., using processor 320, communicationinterface 370, and/or the like) first content data from content providerdevice 210 or user device 230. The first content data may includecontent data (e.g., content data described above with reference to block410, such as data identifying a network address of content) and, in someimplementations, a variety of information related to content that is orwill be provided by the content provider associated with contentprovider device 210 (e.g., compensation information, where validationresults are to be sent, and/or the like).

By way of example, the first content data may include a URL associatedwith social media content that was posted to a social media websiteoperated by the content provider associated with content provider device210. In an implementation where validation wrapper device 250 is astand-alone device, validation wrapper device 250 may receive the firstcontent data from a content provider device 210 or user device 230(e.g., submitted via a web page provided by validation wrapper device250). In an implementation where validation wrapper device 250 isimplemented in a user device 230, validation wrapper device 250 mayreceive the first content data from content provider device 210 via anapplication (e.g., via a web browsing application and/or web browserextension application operating on validation wrapper device 250).

In some implementations, validation wrapper device 250 may receive,separately or with the first content data, validation instructions thatindicate that the content identified by the first content data is to bevalidated. For example, content provider device 210 may send validationwrapper device 250 instructions indicating that the content (e.g., thesocial media content) associated with the first content data (e.g., theURL of the social media content) should be validated (e.g., by a contentvalidation network that includes one or more content validation nodes220). As another example, user device 230 may send validation wrapperdevice 250 instructions indicating that the content associated with thefirst content data should be validated. The instructions may besubmitted, for example, via a web page provided by validation wrapperdevice 250, a console, and/or the like.

In this way, validation wrapper device 250 may receive first contentdata from a content provider, enabling validation wrapper device 250 togenerate second content data and communicate with a content validationnetwork regarding validation of the content identified by the firstcontent data.

As further shown in FIG. 5, process 500 may include generating secondcontent data based on the first content data (block 520). For example,validation wrapper device 250 may generate (e.g., using processor 320,memory 330, storage component 340, and/or the like) second content databased on the first content data. The second content data may begenerated using application programming interface (API) information thatenables validation wrapper device 250 to format information regardingthe content in a manner designed to be received by content validationnode 220. In some implementations the second content data may begenerated by hashing the content identified by the first content data.Using the social media content example, validation wrapper device 250may use the URL of the social media content to obtain the content (e.g.,the text included in the social media content/post). Validation wrapperdevice 250 may then hash the content (e.g., the text) to produce hashdata.

Validation wrapper device 250 may hash the content in a variety of ways.For example, a checksum function or cryptographic hash function (e.g.,Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD) checksum, Merkle-Damgard (MD) 5,secure hash algorithm 1 (SHA-1), SHA-2, cyclic redundancy check(CRC)-32, and/or the like) may be used, by providing the function withinput that includes the content and receiving output that includes ahash. A hash operation may be designed, for example, to map data ofarbitrary size to a bit string of a fixed size (a hash), in a mannerdesigned to be infeasible to invert. The hash of the content may be usedto determine whether the content has been changed since the hash wasgenerated.

Using the social media content example, given a first hash obtained at afirst time T1, and a second hash obtained (using the same hash function)at a second time T2, the hashes will be the same if the text of socialmedia content has not changed. If the text of the social media contenthas changed in between T1 and T2, the second hash should be different.Validation wrapper device 250 may hash the content data prior to thecontent being validated in a manner designed to ensure that thevalidation process is performed on unaltered content. If content changesafter it has been validated, validation wrapper device 250 may detectthe change based on a change in the hash of the content, which mayindicate that the previous validation of the content should be revoked,updated, flagged, and/or the like. While the example above is describedwith reference to using a hash to detect a change in text, a hashfunction may be used to detect changes in other types of content aswell, including image content, audio content, video content, applicationcontent, and/or the like.

In some implementations, the second content data may include otherinformation designed to facilitate content validation. For example,validation wrapper device 250 may include a portion or all of the firstcontent data in the second content data, the content identified by thefirst content data may be included in the second content data, and anydata that might be used by content validation node 220 to performcontent validation may also be included in or sent contemporaneouslywith the second content data. For example, a smart contract implementedby content validation node 220 may request a timestamp indicating a timevalidation wrapper device 250 obtained the hash data. As anotherexample, information related to any of the example parameters used bycontent validation node 220 described above (e.g., with reference toblock 430), may be obtained by validation wrapper device 250 andincluded in the second content data (such as an author for the content,a publisher associated with the content, a title associated with thecontent, and/or the like).

In this way, validation wrapper device 250 may generate second contentdata based on the first content data, enabling validation wrapper device250 to provide content validation node 220 (e.g., of a contentvalidation network) with data that enables content validation to beperformed.

As further shown in FIG. 5, process 500 may include providing the secondcontent data to a content validation node (block 530). For example,validation wrapper device 250 may provide (e.g., using processor 320,output component 360, communication interface 370, and/or the like) thesecond content data to content validation node 220. Validation wrapperdevice 250 may, for example, provide the second content data to contentvalidation node 220 via network 240.

Validation wrapper device 250 may provide the second content data tocontent validation node 220 in a variety of ways. For example, a smartcontract implemented by content validation node 220 may provide (e.g.,via an API) validation wrapper device 250 with information designed toenable validation wrapper device 250 to communicate the second contentdata (and/or any additional information to be used for contentvalidation) to content validation node 220. Using the social mediacontent example, validation wrapper device 250 may use an API associatedwith the smart contract implemented on content validation node 220 tocommunicate the hash of the social media content and the URL of thesocial media content to content validation node 220. As another example,validation wrapper device 250 may broadcast the second content data tothe network of content validation nodes 220, e.g., in a manner designedto enable one or more of the content validation devices to accept thesecond content data and begin a content validation process for theassociated content.

In some implementations, multiple blockchains may exist for contentvalidation (e.g., a separate blockchain for different types of contentand/or different content providers, or the like). In this situation,validation wrapper device 250 may identify the blockchain network tosend the second content data, based on the information associated withthe content provider and/or information included in the first contentdata. Validation wrapper device 250 may identify the blockchain, forexample, based on data identifying the content provider and/or dataidentifying the content. For example, in some implementations, theblockchain may be associated with a content provider and include anidentifier of the content provider. In some implementations, theblockchain may be associated with the content and include an identifierfor the content. In some implementations, the blockchain may beassociated with content validation (e.g., for all content, inimplementations where all content validation is performed based on oneblockchain). After identifying the blockchain to which second contentdata is to be provided, validation wrapper device 250 may send thesecond content data to content validation node 220 in the appropriateblockchain network (e.g., using an API that corresponds to theblockchain network, broadcasting the second content data to theblockchain network, and/or the like).

In this way, validation wrapper device 250 provides the second contentdata to a content validation node 220, enabling content validation node220 to perform a content validation process on content associated withthe second content data, and further enabling validation wrapper device250 to obtain validation results.

As further shown in FIG. 5, process 500 may include obtaining contentvalidation results associated with the content (block 540). For example,validation wrapper device 250 may obtain (e.g., using processor 320,input component 350, communication interface 370, and/or the like)content validation results associated with the content from contentvalidation node 220.

In some implementations, validation wrapper device 250 obtains contentvalidation results based on content validation node 220 providing thecontent validation results to validation wrapper device 250. Forexample, content validation node 220 may be configured (e.g., via asmart contract) to provide validation wrapper device 250 with theresults of content validation when the validation process has beenperformed. In some implementations, validation wrapper device 250obtains content validation results based on validation wrapper device250 reading the validation results from the blockchain used by contentvalidation node 220 for content validation. For example, validationwrapper device 250 may periodically check the blockchain network for atransaction associated with the content data, e.g., in a manner designedto enable validation wrapper device 250 to read and obtain validationresults from the blockchain.

A variety of information may be included in the validation resultsobtained by validation wrapper device 250. For example, the validationresults may include any of the information described above withreference to block 440. Examples include validation parameters, measuresof confidence associated with validation parameters, scores associatedwith each validation parameter, a score associated with accuracy of thecontent, a determination or other indication regarding the accuracy ofthe content, and/or the like. Using the social media content example,validation wrapper device 250 may obtain validation results thatindicate that the social media content is accurate, trustworthy,legitimate, and/or the like.

In this way, validation wrapper device 250 may obtain validation resultsassociated with the content, enabling validation wrapper device 250 toperform an action based on the validation results.

As further shown in FIG. 5, process 500 may include performing an actionbased on the validation results (block 550). For example, validationwrapper device 250 may perform an action based on the validationresults. In some implementations, validation wrapper device 250 mayperform any of the operations described above (e.g., with reference toblock 450) as being performed by content validation node 220. By way ofexample, validation wrapper device 250 may provide the content providerwith data indicating the validation results, provide the contentprovider with data that causes display of a validation indicator withthe content, provide data that causes content provider to automaticallyremove content determined to be invalid or inaccurate, and/or the like.By way of example, validation wrapper device 250 may provide contentprovider device 210 (e.g., associated with the content provider thatprovided the first content data) with data that causes display of avalidation indicator in a web page element that is to be included in aweb page associated with the content, such as a web page overlay,button, and/or the like. The web page element may display informationdesigned to enable a user viewing the web page to determine whether thecontent included in the web page has been validated and is accurate.

In an implementation where validation wrapper device 250 is implementedin user device 230 (e.g., using an application operating on user device230 to perform operations described as being performed by validationwrapper device 250), validation wrapper device 250 may cause display ofa validation indicator on a display of validation wrapper device 250. Byway of example, validation wrapper device 250 may include a smart phonethat uses a web browsing application to view content, and a web browserextension application to obtain content validation results and display avisual indicator (e.g., overlay, button, watermark, highlighted text,and/or the like) in the web browser of the smart phone. Using the socialmedia content example, a user may view the social media content on asocial media application operating on the user's smart phone. Using aplugin or separate application, the smart phone may broadcast dataidentifying the social media content to a content validation blockchainnetwork. After the smartphone (e.g., via the plugin or separateapplication) obtains the results of the validation (either previouslyperformed validation or validation performed based on the receipt of thesocial media content), the smartphone (e.g., via the plugin or separateapplication), may display a visual indicator with the social mediacontent, the visual indicator indicating the results of the validationprocess.

In some implementations, the action performed by validation wrapperdevice 250 may include validating the content based on the validationresults. The validation performed by validation wrapper device 250 mayinclude any validation operations described above (e.g., with referenceto block 430) as being performed by content validation node 220. Thevalidation performed by validation wrapper device 250 may be in additionto any validation process performed by content validation node 220. Forexample, validation wrapper device 250 may use the validation results(e.g., obtained at block 540) to validate the content. Using the socialmedia post example, the validation results may include multiplevalidation parameter confidence values, and validation wrapper device250 may use the validation parameter confidence values to validate thecontent as accurate (or inaccurate).

In some implementations, validation wrapper device 250 may perform anaction that causes content to be removed, or to otherwise be madeunavailable. For example, a content provider may use validation wrapperdevice 250 (and content validation node 220) to determine whethercontent published by the content provider is accurate and, in asituation where the content is determined to be inaccurate, the contentmay be automatically removed, flagged for removal, flagged for manualreview, and/or the like.

In some implementations, validation wrapper device 250 may verify thatthe content has not changed based on verification data included in thevalidation results. For example, validation results may include hashdata that was generated (e.g., by validation wrapper device 250 and/orcontent validation node 220) by hashing the content. Validation wrapperdevice 250 may verify that the content has not changed by hashing thecontent and comparing the results to the hash data included in thevalidation results. In a situation where the hash data matches, thecontent is unlikely to have changed after the validation process wasperformed. In a situation where the hash data does not match, thecontent was changed after the content validation process was performedand, as such, the validation results may be inaccurate and/or need to beperformed again. In this situation, validation wrapper device may causethe content to be validated again (e.g., in response to determining thatthe content has changed).

In some implementations, validation wrapper device 250 may receive arequest for validation data associated with content, and providevalidation data based on receipt of the request. For example, userdevice 230 may interact with a web page element included in a web pageassociated with content that is provided by content provider device 210;the web page element may include a link to a website hosted byvalidation wrapper device 250. Based on user device 230 interaction withthe web page element, user device 230 may provide validation wrapperdevice 250 with data identifying the content (e.g., the contentdisplayed on the page with the web page element). In this situation,validation wrapper device 250 may obtain, from the blockchain,validation data regarding the validation of the content (e.g.,validation parameters, confidence scores, and/or the like); validationwrapper device 250 may then cause display of the validation data on thewebsite, in a manner designed to enable the user of user device 230 toview the validation data.

Using the social media content example, validation wrapper device 250may have provided the social media content provider with a visualindicator that identified a particular social media post as inaccurate.The visual indicator may have also included a link to a website hostedby validation wrapper device 250. A user (e.g., wishing to obtain moreinformation on why the social media post was validated as inaccurate),may use a user device to interact with the link, enabling the user toview the website provided by validation wrapper device 250. Interactionwith the link may provide validation wrapper device 250 with dataidentifying the social media post, and may enable validation wrapperdevice 250 to obtain, from the blockchain, validation data that includesthe information used by content validation nodes 220 to determine thatthe social media post was validated as inaccurate. After obtaining thevalidation data, validation wrapper device 250 may cause display of thevalidation data on the website, e.g., enabling the user to view theinformation used to determine that the social media post was inaccurate.

While a variety of example actions are described above, additionaland/or different actions may be performed by validation wrapper device250, e.g., in a manner designed to facilitate content validation using ablockchain. In this way, validation wrapper device 250 may perform anaction based on the validation results, enabling content providers andusers who view content provided by content providers to obtain anindependent validation of content. The use of validation wrapper device250 may facilitate simple interaction with the blockchain network thatperforms content validation, and may further facilitate the ability toboth submit content for validation and obtain content validationresults.

Although FIG. 5 shows example blocks of process 500, in someimplementations, process 500 may include additional blocks, fewerblocks, different blocks, or differently arranged blocks than thosedepicted in FIG. 5. Additionally, or alternatively, two or more of theblocks of process 500 may be performed in parallel.

FIGS. 6A-6D are diagrams of example content validated using ablockchain. The examples provide a variety of visual indicators that maybe displayed with content that has be validated by a content validationprocess, such as process 400 and/or process 500 described above. Whileeach of the examples is related to providing an indication of theaccuracy of news articles, similar visual indicators may be used toprovide an indication of the accuracy, trustworthiness, legitimacy,etc., of other types of content.

As shown in FIG. 6A, an example news article 600 is presented. Thedisplay of the example news article 600 may, for example, correspond tothe manner in which a web browsing application of a user device 230 maypresent a digital news article to a user. The example news article 600is displayed with two visual indicators regarding the accuracy of thecontent of the example news article which, in this example, wasdetermined to be accurate. For example, a pattern is shown in thebackground of the example news article 600, which may represent apattern or color (e.g., green) associated with content that has beendetermined to be accurate. The example news article 600 also includestext indicating that the news article has been “validated by contentvalidator,” and a link. The link may be to a web page or other contentassociated with the blockchain for the content (e.g., enabling a user tofollow the link to view the validation results, validation information,and/or the like).

As shown in FIG. 6B, another example news article 620 is presented. Thedisplay of the example news article 620 may, for example, correspond tothe manner in which a web browsing application of a user device 230 maypresent a digital news article to a user. The example news article 620is displayed with two visual indicators regarding the accuracy of thecontent of the example news article which, in this example, wasdetermined to be inaccurate. For example, a pattern is shown in thebackground of the example news article 620, which may represent apattern or color (e.g., red) associated with content that has beendetermined to be inaccurate. The example news article 620 also includestext indicating that the news article “content may containinaccuracies,” and a link. The link may be to a web page or othercontent associated with the blockchain for the content (e.g., enabling auser to follow the link to view the validation results, validationinformation, and/or the like).

As shown in FIG. 6C, an example news article 640 is presented. Thedisplay of the example news article 640 may, for example, correspond tothe manner in which a web browsing application of a user device 230 maypresent a digital news article to a user. The example news article 640is displayed with multiple visual indicators regarding the accuracy ofthe content of the example news article which, in this example,separately highlighted text in a manner designed to indicate whether thehighlighted portion of the content is accurate. For example, some textof the example news article 640 is shown with a highlight in a firstpattern, while other text of the example news article 640 is shown witha highlight in a second pattern. The first pattern may represent apattern or color (e.g., green) associated with the portions of thecontent that have been determined to be accurate, while the secondpattern may represent a pattern or color (e.g., red) associated with theportions of the content that have been determined to be inaccurate. Theexample news article 600 also includes text indicating that the newsarticle has been “validated by content validator,” and a link. The linkmay be to a web page or other content associated with the blockchain forthe content (e.g., enabling a user to follow the link to view thevalidation results, validation information, and/or the like).

As shown in FIG. 6D, an example web page 660 of a news aggregator ispresented. The display of the example web page 660 may, for example,correspond to the manner in which a web browsing application of a userdevice 230 may present a web page to a user. The example web page 660includes snippets, or portions, of three different news articles. Inaddition, each of the snippets, or portions of the three news articles,is displayed with a visual indicator that indicates whether thecorresponding news article was validated. While not displayed with aseparate indicator regarding the results of the validation process, insome implementations indicators could provide both an indication thatthe validation process has been performed for an article and the resultsof the validation process.

In the example web page 660, the first news article is displayed with avisual indicator indicating that the news article has been validated.The second news article is displayed with a visual indicator indicatingthat validation of the news article is in progress. The third newsarticle is displayed with a visual indicator indicating that the newsarticle has not been validated. In some circumstances, providing anindication regarding whether validation has been or will be performedmay provide some additional assurance, or skepticism, to a user,regarding whether the content is reliable.

As indicated above, FIGS. 6A-6D are provided merely as examples. Otherexamples are possible and may differ from what was described with regardto FIGS. 6A-6D.

The foregoing disclosure provides illustration and description, but isnot intended to be exhaustive or to limit the implementations to theprecise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible inlight of the above disclosure or may be acquired from practice of theimplementations.

As used herein, the term component is intended to be broadly construedas hardware, firmware, or a combination of hardware and software.

Some implementations are described herein in connection with thresholds.As used herein, satisfying a threshold may refer to a value beinggreater than the threshold, more than the threshold, higher than thethreshold, greater than or equal to the threshold, less than thethreshold, fewer than the threshold, lower than the threshold, less thanor equal to the threshold, equal to the threshold, and/or the like.

It will be apparent that systems and/or methods, described herein, maybe implemented in different forms of hardware, firmware, or acombination of hardware and software. The actual specialized controlhardware or software code used to implement these systems and/or methodsis not limiting of the implementations. Thus, the operation and behaviorof the systems and/or methods were described herein without reference tospecific software code—it being understood that software and hardwarecan be designed to implement the systems and/or methods based on thedescription herein.

Even though particular combinations of features are recited in theclaims and/or disclosed in the specification, these combinations are notintended to limit the disclosure of possible implementations. In fact,many of these features may be combined in ways not specifically recitedin the claims and/or disclosed in the specification. Although eachdependent claim listed below may directly depend on only one claim, thedisclosure of possible implementations includes each dependent claim incombination with every other claim in the claim set.

No element, act, or instruction used herein should be construed ascritical or essential unless explicitly described as such. Also, as usedherein, the articles “a” and “an” are intended to include one or moreitems, and may be used interchangeably with “one or more.” Furthermore,as used herein, the term “set” is intended to include one or more items(e.g., related items, unrelated items, a combination of related andunrelated items, etc.), and may be used interchangeably with “one ormore.” Where only one item is intended, the term “one” or similarlanguage is used. Also, as used herein, the terms “has,” “have,”“having,” and/or the like are intended to be open-ended terms. Further,the phrase “based on” is intended to mean “based, at least in part, on”unless explicitly stated otherwise.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: receiving, by a device associated with a blockchain network, first content data associated with a content provider, the first content data including data identifying content: generating, by the device, second content data based upon the first content data, the second content data being used to facilitate content validation; identifying, by the device, a blockchain associated with the first content data, the blockchain including validation information specifying instructions for validating the content; providing, by the device and to a content validation node associated with the blockchain, the second content data; obtaining, by the device and from the content validation node, validation results associated with the content; and providing to a content provider device associated with the content provider, data used to display of a validation indicator with the content, the validation indicator being based on the validation results.
 2. The method of claim 1, where generating the second content data comprises: generating the second content data by hashing the content identified by the first content data to produce hash data, the hash data being produced to determine whether the content has changed.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: providing, to a plurality of other devices associated with the blockchain, a notification indicating the validation results.
 4. The method of claim 1, where the data that causes display of the validation indicator includes a universal resource locator (URL).
 5. The method of claim 1, where the data used to display of the validation indicator causes display of at least one of: a watermark; a background; a pop-up; a web page element; an overlay; or text indicating a status of the content, the text being based on validation results.
 6. The method of claim 1, where the validation information included in the blockchain comprise an algorithm for evaluating a level of accuracy of the content by assigning scores to various attributes of the content.
 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising: storing the validation results of the validation in a transaction on the blockchain.
 8. A device for validating content, comprising: a memory; and one or more processors operatively coupled to the memory, the memory and the one or more processors configured to: receive first content data associated with a content provider, the first content data including data identifying content: generate second content data based upon the first content data, the second content data being used to facilitate content validation, provide, to a content validation node associated with a blockchain, the second content data, the blockchain including validation information specifying instructions for validating the content; obtain, from the content validation node, validation results associated with the content; and provide to a content provider device associated with the content provider, data used to display of a validation indicator with the content, the validation indicator being based on the validation results.
 9. The device of claim 8, where the one or more processors, when generating the second content data, are to: generate the second content data by hashing the content identified by the first content data to produce hash data, the hash data being produced to determine whether the content has changed, and where the validation results are associated with additional hash data, the additional hash data being compared to the hash data to verify that the content has not changed.
 10. The device of claim 8, where the second content data includes additional information associated with a smart contract.
 11. The device of claim 8, where the one or more processors are further configured to: provide, to a plurality of other devices associated with the blockchain, a notification indicating the validation results.
 12. The device of claim 8, where the data used to display of the validation indicator causes display of at least one of: a watermark; a background; a pop-up; a web page element; an overlay; or text indicating a status of the content, the text being based on validation results.
 13. The device of claim 8, where the validation information included in the blockchain comprise an algorithm for evaluating a level of accuracy of the content by assigning scores to various attributes of the content.
 14. The device of claim 8, where the one or more processors are further configured to: store the validation results of the validation in a transaction on the blockchain.
 15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing one or more instructions for wireless communication, the one or more instructions comprising: one or more instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a device, cause the one or more processors to: receive first content data associated with a content provider, the first content data including data identifying content, the first content being associated with a blockchain, the blockchain including validation information specifying instructions for validating the content; generate second content data based upon the first content data, the second content data being used to facilitate content validation; provide, to a content validation node associated with the blockchain, the second content data; obtain, by the device and from the content validation node, validation results associated with the content; and provide to a content provider device associated with the content provider, data used to display of a validation indicator with the content, the validation indicator being based on the validation results.
 16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, where the one or more instructions, that cause the one or more processor of the device to generate the second content data, cause the one or more processors of the device to: generate the second content data by hashing the content identified by the first content data to produce hash data, the hash data being produced to determine whether the content has changed.
 17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, where the data used to display of the validation indicator includes a universal resource locator (URL).
 18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, where the data used to display of the validation indicator causes display of at least one of: a watermark; a background; a pop-up; a web page element; an overlay; or text indicating a status of the content, the text being based on validation results.
 19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, where the validation information included in the blockchain comprise an algorithm for evaluating a level of accuracy of the content by assigning scores to various attributes of the content.
 20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1915, where algorithm includes values associated with different weights for the various attributes of the content, a first weight being assigned to an inaccurate fact parameter associated with the content, a second weight being assigned to another accuracy parameter associated with the content, the first weight having a different effect on a final accuracy score than the second weight. 